Quilting-frame



(No Model.)

J. H. HELMS.

QUILTING- FRAME. No. 330,482. Patented Nov. 17. 1885.

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M aww www UNiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB HENRY HELMS, OF MONROE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. S. GRIER, OFMATTHEWS, AND JOSEPH STEARNES, OF ADAMS MILLS, NORTH CAROLINA.

QUILTING-FRAIVIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,482, dated November17, 1885.

Application led August 6, 1884. Serial No. 139,777. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB H. HELMs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Monroe, in the county of Union and State of North Carolina,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Quilting-Frames;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and gures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to quilting-frames; and it consists in the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts, as willbe hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure lis a plan view, Fig. 2 a side view, and Fig. 3an end view, of my improved frame with the quilt applied.

The legs A A', on opposite. sides of the frame, are crossed midway theirends, and pivoted together, preferably, on the ends of transverse rodB,which serves also to connect the opposite parts of legs, and therebybrace the device. Each of the legs A is provided near its upper end witha series of notches or rack-teeth, a, and near its lower end with anotch or notches, a. Rollers C G connect the upper end of legs A A andAA. The roller which connects the legs A A has the pawls DD pivoted onit at a point close to the inner sides of the said legs, as shown. Thesepawls may be adjusted to make their points engage the notches a, asshown in Figs. l and 2, or the notch c', as shown in Fig. 3, andindicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2, so as to stretch the quilt when theframe is used as a quiltingframe, or to properly brace it when it isdesired to use it as a table-frame, as will be fully describedhereinafter. Aratchet-wheel, E, is secured on one end of each of therollers D, and pawls F are arranged on the adjacent legs in position toengage said wheel and hold them and the rollers on which they aresecured at any desired point.

When used as a quilting-frame, the fabric to be quilted is wound at itsopposite side ends on rollers C, and drawn taut thereby, and held by thepawls F engaging wheels E. The lever-pawl D is then adjusted intoengagement with notches a, and pressed down until the fabric has beenstretched the desired degree, at which position the pawl is held byengagement withthe proper one of notches a, as will be understood fromFig. 2.

Vhen not in use as a quilting-frame, the lever-pawls may be adj ustedinto the position shown in Fig. 3, and indicated in Fig. 2, where theywill engage notches c', and brace the legs A and A against weight placedon them. Now, by mounting asuitable top on the frame a Convenient tableis provided, as will be un derstnod.

Thus my frame may be used for quilting or as a table-support, and may beeasily converted from one to the other of said uses.

It is manifest that a single lever-pawl would give good results; but Iprefer to use two, as shown, as thereby the frame may be braced morefirmly, and the fabric to be quilted be more evenly stretched.

It will be noticed that the rollers Chave the ratchets E secured ontheir ends beyond the legs, thereby serving as a means to secure thesame in place.

It will be further noticed that the pawls D are pivotally mounted on thejournals of the rollers and engage notches formed in the body of thelegs. By this construction a simple and inexpensive device is produced,and one that may be stored away in small compass.

I am aware that a device for purposes hereinbefore described has beenconstructedybut with these differences: The ratchet-pinions are mountedon the rollers on the inner side of the leg, thereby not performing theoffice of a keeper for legs, which latter have the leverpawls pivoted totheir outer faces, thereby preventing the close folding of the device.Besides requiring an extra connection, these lever-pawls engageratchet-plates mortised in the legs of the frame, the expense of whichmy construction entirely obviates.

Having thus described my invention, what I f IOO quilting frame andstand, consisting of legs of the legs A, substantially as and for the AA7 pvoted ou the ends of rod B, rollers purposes described. Y C, journaled in their upper ends, ratchets E, In testimony whereof I affixmy signature 1u secured to the outer ends of the journals and presenceof two Witnesses.

5 serving as a keeper for the legs, and pawls F, his

pivoted to the outer face of the legs and engag- J A0013 HENRY X HELMSmark.

ing said ratehets, in combination with leverpawls D,pivotally mounted onthe journals of Vitnesges;

the rollers C, on the inner side ofthe outermost A. M. STACK, xo legs,A, to engage notches a a', eut in the body I H. B. ADAMS.

